asked the Minister for Social Welfare why arrears of widow's pension were not paid to a person in County Offaly (details supplied).
Written Answers. - Offaly Widow's Pension.
32.
The husband of the person named by the Deputy died on 16th February, 1976. He had been in receipt of unemployment assistance up to the date of his death and in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1974, this assistance continued to be paid to his widow for the period of six weeks after his death. Where such payment is made the Act provides that entitlement to widow's pension shall not commence until after the expiration of such period of six weeks. Entitlement to widow's pension did not, therefore, commence in the case referred to by the Deputy until 2nd April, 1976. A pension order book payable from 23rd April, 1976, was issued on 20th April, 1976. The arrears of widow's pension due for the period 2nd April, 1976, to 22nd April, 1976, were paid to the local authority in refund of advances of home assistance made to the widow during the same period. Authority to make such refund is contained in section 55 of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act, 1935.